Projects

: Supply chain and market research

To illustrate our broad expertise, covering many different economic sectors, commodities, sustainability themes and countries, this page gives an overview of the different projects executed by Profundo over the years. In the menu, you can filter the projects by thematic area. Each project is described briefly and where available the project portfolio - such as reports, brochures or presentations - is provided. Attention is also given to the exposure generated by the project in the media, in politics and elsewhere.

When you are looking for a specific report, we recommend to go to our Portfolio page.

We analyse the various human rights and other sustainability risks in international commodity supply chains and identify what different stakeholders can do to foster sustainable development of value chains in agriculture, forestry, livestock, energy, fisheries and mineral sectors.

We analyse how companies are financed by banks, shareholders and others financiers, to assess what financiers could do to foster sustainable corporate practices. Also, we dig into ownership structures and the schemes companies have set up to minimise tax payments.

We assess and benchmark responsible investment and credit policies of banks and investors and we advise on how policies can be improved and implemented through screening, voting, engagement and exclusion strategies.

We analyse the financial parameters of companies and assess how companies and their financiers could be affected in different scenarios by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks related to deforestation, climate change emissions, human rights abuses, resource depletion, health impacts and other sustainability issues.

We analyse public policies in the economic, tax and environmental domains, which could shape or restrain the sustainable transformation of the corporate and financial world, and propose alternative policies.

October 2018

Cencosud is a multi-brand retailer in South America, headquartered in Chile. The company is the fourth largest supermarket chain in Brazil, after Carrefour, GPA (Pão de Açúcar) and Walmart. Cencosud’s position in the beef supply chain may expose it to deforestation risks through the beef it sources from slaughterhouses, as cattle is a major driver of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.

September 2018

September 7, 2018

Cattle-driven Deforestation: A Major Risk to Brazilian Retailers

Cattle ranching in Brazil, home to the world’s second largest herd, remains a major
cause of deforestation. This trend continues despite meatpackers and retailers having
made commitments to deforestation-free supply chains in the last ten years. This
report describes the economic role of the cattle sector in Brazil, key supply chain
actors, their role in deforestation, and potential solutions to improve sustainability
performance. The supply chain relationships of the top five retailers and meatpackers
with Amazon plants expose the Brazilian retail sector to material risk from sourcing
unsustainable beef.

June 2018

June 21, 2018

Power and Influence in the Value Chains of Dutch Retailers

The research analysed the top 5 Dutch retailers (Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, Aldi, Plus) based on a set of hypotheses regarding their power, policies, trading practices and the environment they operate in. In addition, supply chain links between Southeast Asian seafood producers and Dutch, German and UK retailers have been researched.